The assessment of factors affecting the doctor-patient cooperation in osteoporosis

Background. High prevalence of osteoporosis requires increased efforts in prevention as well as active doctor-patient cooperation. The great part of patients does not obey long term therapy regime. Developing an effective model of cooperation is the crucial aim for successful therapy of osteoporosis. The Scholaris Association created a program to be helpful in analysis of factors affecting on osteoporosis treatment efficacy. Material and methods. The group of 205 female patients took part in the Program. For each patient 7 appointments were planned in 2 month intervals. Patients' endurance was analyzed, and also their attitude towards disease and the form of presented treatment. All patients were given the same medication: alendronian 70 mg in a weekly dose. Results. The number of patients who attended all planned visits was 179, which makes 87% of the whole group. Therapy was found convenient by the number of 115 women. Some difficulties were reported by 53 patients. As inconvenient, presented form of treatment was declared by 5 patients. None of them found treatment as to inconvenient to continue. In 26% of cases the Program significantly increased the level of knowledge on osteoporosis, in 87% did it slightly. The understanding of the disease and purposes of the treatment was reported in 23% of patients, acceptation in 52%. The need of further information on the disease was observed in 25% of patients. Conclusions. 1. Increase in the patient's knowledge on the disease helps to cooperate with the physician. 2. Frequent and regular contacts are significant in treatment continuity. 3. The acceptation of the disease and the treatment influences on patient's endurance.